Iowa · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Iowa security deposit law

How much a landlord in Iowa can charge, the deadline to return a deposit, what may be deducted, the penalty for keeping it wrongly and how to get yours back.

Short answer

In Iowa, the deposit limit is: Two months' rent. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 30 days after your tenancy ends AND the landlord has your mailing address or delivery instructions.

deposit limit
2 months' rent
to return a deposit
30 days
deposit penalty
See below

Security deposit in Iowa

Limit
Two months' rent.
Deadline to return it
Within 30 days after your tenancy ends AND the landlord has your mailing address or delivery instructions. Give your new address in writing. If you give no address within 1 year after the tenancy ends, you lose the deposit.
Itemized list
Yes. If the landlord keeps any part, they must give you a written statement with the specific reason. For damage, the statement must describe the damage. A landlord who misses the 30-day deadline loses the right to keep any of the deposit. In court the landlord must prove the reasons. Receipts are not required by the statute.
What may be deducted
Only amounts reasonably needed to: cover unpaid rent or other money owed under the lease; restore the unit to its move-in condition, except ordinary wear and tear; and cover the cost of getting the unit back from a tenant who did not leave in good faith after notice.
Interest
No. Interest earned during the first five years of the tenancy belongs to the landlord.
Separate account
Yes. The deposit must be held in a federally insured bank, savings and loan or credit union and must not be mixed with the landlord's personal money (a common trust account is allowed).
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
If the landlord keeps the deposit in bad faith, you can recover your actual damages plus punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent. The court may also award attorney fees to the winner.
Law
Iowa Code § 562A.12

Get your deposit back, step by step

  1. Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
  2. Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Iowa: Within 30 days after your tenancy ends AND the landlord has your mailing address or delivery instructions.
  3. Wait for the deadline: Within 30 days after your tenancy ends AND the landlord has your mailing address or delivery instructions.
  4. If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
  5. If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $6,500, not counting interest and court costs. Evictions are also handled as small claims. Small claims court in Iowa on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Iowa

Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Enter your deposit and move-out dateThe result appears as you type.

An estimate from the dates you enter and the rule in our data, not legal advice. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business days, and we don't skip holidays.

Security deposit demand letter for Iowa

A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.

Your letter is made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else.

The name on your lease or rent receipts.

We suggest 14 days.

One or two sentences. This text goes into the letter as written.

Small claims court in Iowa

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $6,500, not counting interest and court costs. Evictions are also handled as small claims.

How to file in Iowa

Questions about security deposits in Iowa

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Iowa?

Two months' rent.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Iowa?

Within 30 days after your tenancy ends AND the landlord has your mailing address or delivery instructions. Give your new address in writing. If you give no address within 1 year after the tenancy ends, you lose the deposit.

What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Iowa?

If the landlord keeps the deposit in bad faith, you can recover your actual damages plus punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent. The court may also award attorney fees to the winner.

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Iowa?

Only amounts reasonably needed to: cover unpaid rent or other money owed under the lease; restore the unit to its move-in condition, except ordinary wear and tear; and cover the cost of getting the unit back from a tenant who did not leave in good faith after notice.

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Iowa?

No. Interest earned during the first five years of the tenancy belongs to the landlord.

What is the small claims limit in Iowa?

$6,500, not counting interest and court costs. Evictions are also handled as small claims.

More for Iowa renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.